How Hong Kongers are taking to the skies with aviation-themed staycations
Advertising
Experiences
How Hong Kongers are taking to the skies with aviation-themed staycations
With motel fever having taken on a whole new resonance in 2020, citizens in densely-populated, compact Hong Kong are paying top dollar to fly high.
At The Peninsula Hong Kong, your reminder of the joys of aviation – surely a privilege that we'll never take for granted again – comes courtesy of a helicopter flight around the urban center. (Photograph: The Peninsula Hong Kong)
01 November 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 04 Jul 2022 11:52PM)
It'south a city where, for many, getting on a aeroplane is barely a bigger deal than getting on a bus elsewhere. So after ten months of strictly enforced travel quarantine – still one of the most draconian anywhere, entailing two weeks of domicile or hotel room confinement, complete with a tracker wristband – it's understandable why many Hong Kongers are desperate to take flight.
READ> What it's like to dine on board SIA's Restaurant A380@Changi: A kickoff-mitt feel
At that place are dozens of islands and bays reachable by individual yacht or junk, countless mountains and trails to hike or beaches to laze on. Just the reality is that later a while, Hong Kong begins to feel very, very small. At a full of 1,106 sq. km., information technology'south barely 25 per cent larger than Singapore – but with a 25 per cent larger population.
To counteract motel fever in serious style, two of the city's most storied and historic hotels, The Peninsula Hong Kong and The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, have both offered staycation packages that allow guests to go upwardly, up and away – at least temporarily.
At The Peninsula, your reminder of the joys of aviation – surely a privilege that nosotros'll never take for granted over again – comes courtesy of a helicopter flight effectually the city.
The hotel known every bit the Grande Dame of The Far East has cleverly turned your choice of a one to three-nighttime pause into a Journeying the world extravaganza, giving guests tastes of global cuisines, cultures and voyages along the way.
Our journey began in one of their famous emerald green Rolls-Royce Phantoms, a vehicle so vast and comfy that it feels similar a hotel suite on wheels. After deftly navigating our edifice's tiny parking lot (1 unaccustomed to long wheelbases), we glided effortlessly to Tsim Sha Tsui and the property which dates dorsum to 1928.
After walking through the famed high-ceilinged lobby – past those taking their Instagram-worthy afternoon tea – and a quick bank check-in, you're whisked straight up to the Prc Clipper Lounge at the superlative of the building's new fly.
The elegant space overlooking Hong Kong'southward Victoria Harbour is named after the offset Pan Am "flying boats" which took passengers from San Francisco to Hong Kong in no fewer than seven nights – including stopovers – for a absurd equivalent of US$32,500 (S$44,320) in today's money.
The sectional lounge is only open to those taking helicopter flights, be information technology to or from Hong Kong airport, or on sightseeing trips of one's choice around the SAR. It'due south filled with fascinating memorabilia from the early days of aviation, from envy-inducing 1930s leather travel holdalls to full Pratt and Whitney engines.
Screens let you lookout man a live feed of your chopper landing on the helipad higher up you lot, while there are also divergence screens for Hong Kong aerodrome – on our visit, with flights understandably depressingly few and far between.
After watching the rubber briefing, you lot don a compact lifejacket and are led up to the helipad where your chopper from Heliservices await. In one case inside, the two friendly pilots – ours were a Hong Konger called Ben and a Venezuelan called Micky – introduced themselves via headset, before you gently start to soar.
After almost eight months not having been in any shipping, it'southward a pretty emotional moment as you appreciate the joy of flying all over once again. The endless skyscrapers below you give way to the waters of Victoria Harbour, the tiny Star Ferries navigating them, as y'all take in the skyline and energy of the urban center.
On our 18-minute flying nosotros chose to circumnavigate Hong Kong Island and, thank you to a blissfully clear solar day with blue skies, the feel was truly astonishing. Apparently cruising at a far lower altitude than any plane, at that place were unique angles and viewpoints at every turn, the isle's remarkable geographical diversity revealing itself in wholly new ways.
The hidden waterfall at Pok Fu Lam crashing into the South Cathay Bounding main. Repulse Bay looking like information technology could rival the French Riviera. Sweeping over the jungle-clad mountains of Tai Tam State Park, which reminded us of a chopper trip in Hawaii. Then dorsum to the extraordinary urban sprawl, dizzying numbers of buildings and back to the energy of the harbour below.
The flight was not simply an exhilarant take chances, it also showed united states the island in a whole new lite, rekindling our dearest of the city we call home and reminding the states why its diversity is and then compelling and unique. Thereafter, coming down to world physically and metaphorically, The Peninsula was an haven of cool elegance amidst the maelstrom of city life.
As role of the package you choose additional journeys, be they in their 1934 Rolls-Royce, visiting the hotel'due south fascinating archive room or peradventure taking a Visual Journey where a Leica skillful leads you on a photography masterclass.
Other options include visiting Kadoorie Subcontract & Botanic Garden, at the superlative of Kwun Yum Shan in the New Territories, some 550m above sea level, or maybe taking to the water aboard The Peninsula's yacht with a 1-twenty-four hours charter.
Spa sessions let you escape to a world of bliss, while the famed dining destinations do likewise. Chef Albin Gobil at ane Michelin-starred Gaddi's whisks you to Paris with sublime contemporary French cuisine, while a fondue dinner at Chesa lets you aqueduct Switzerland. Or, for more of a local taste, Bound Moon offers exemplary Cantonese creations.
READ> Missed your chance to dine in SIA'due south A380? You can now do so in a cable car
JET-Fix LIFE
Hong Kong'due south 2d aviation experience for those seeking to soar in mode comes with the Mandarin Oriental, in partnership with the global individual aviation company, VistaJet.
Another hotel well-deserving of the ofttimes-over-used sobriquet "iconic", Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong have provided a at-home refuge from the city'south energy for 57 years.
Spacious suites overlook Victoria Harbour and the famed skyline, while viii restaurants and bars make it a real describe for gourmands. Impeccable service, elegance at every step and a combination of contemporary comfort and heritage mode make it one of Asia's near famed properties.
Combining the Mandarin Oriental'due south famed hospitality and cuisine with a individual VistaJet trip makes for what must rank every bit the ultimate in-flying dining feel. The partnership too includes a staycation package and a credit towards future jet hire.
That'due south handy because VistaJet own a fleet of more than lxx large-cabin, super-to-midsize long-range Global and Challenger jets, gear up to have you lot to more than 180 countries in serious A-List style.
Behind the elegant silver and carmine liveries sits a world of luxury that u.s. mere mortals tin can only dream of. Italian leather, the finest forest, queen-size beds and private staterooms are just some of the touches to make you lot feel at dwelling house, even earlier dining and entertaining has come into the equation.
The recent Mid-Autumn Festival offering, Once In The Blue Moon, allow guests enjoy the ultimate in lunar festival dining with a bespoke Hong Kong flight experience.
That was thank you to a curated in-flight carte du jour by Executive Chinese Chef Wing-Keung Wong of the hotel's 1 Michelin-starred Homo Wah. His signature dishes, including wagyu puffs with black pepper sauce, braised fresh crab hook with glass vermicelli and double-boiled matsutake mushroom with fish maw and craven broth, were doubtless stratospherically tasty at 40,000 feet.
Happily, a bespoke dining and flying experience is still available until Dec 29 for up to eight guests, featuring a menu of your choice from Man Wah served up in the clouds. Information technology besides includes a cooking class for two, a one-nighttime stay for 2 in a City View Suite, breakfast, gifts and other goodies.
The Hong Kong flight feel involves yous – along with your very lucky friends and family – getting whisked by limousine to the city's Chek Lap Kok aerodrome and the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre. No mingling with the masses at security, clearing or waiting to board. No mingling at all, in fact, other than those yous're travelling with.
It'south individual treatment all the manner from taking off, soaring up, cruising for ii hours and returning – but crucially without having landed, meaning that quarantine isn't even a consideration when you return.
Within a two-hour round-trip radius from Hong Kong, you lot tin guarantee a remarkable range of scenery, sights and experiences, be they tropical beaches, rugged coastlines, or maybe just the blissfully empty area of ocean.
Arguably the greatest luxury of these sectional flying experiences is taking in the sights of Hong Kong and well beyond in utter exclusivity, in your own aviation bubble – all while well and truly fulfilling that urge to go upwards, up and abroad.
The Peninsula Hong Kong's Around the World iii-night package costs HK$46,800 (S$8,200) in a Grand Deluxe Harbour View Suite and includes the Rolls-Royce transfers, helicopter tour, spa treatment and choice of dining experiences and journeys. Book at world wide web.peninsula.com or call The Peninsula Global Customer Service +852 2926 2888 to create your bespoke staycation journey.
A bespoke Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong dining and Vistajet flying package starts from approximately U.s.$31,500, (Southward$42,700) depending on option of jet, flight duration, bill of fare and more. Book via contacting vistajet.com/privateoffice or mohkg-restaurants [at] mohg.com (mohkg–)
READ> Li Ka-shing is no longer Hong Kong'due south wealthiest human being. Who is the new No ane?
Recent Searches
Trending Topics
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/hong-kong-aviation-themed-staycation-packages-247121
0 Response to "How Hong Kongers are taking to the skies with aviation-themed staycations"
Post a Comment